Locking device and method for fixation of components to tubes

ABSTRACT

A locking device designed to lock objects to tubes or other elongated elements that generally comprises one or more lock plates and lock housings. In one exemplary embodiment, when assembling the locking device to a tube, two lock housings are put together with open sides against each other around a tube with a dimension corresponding to approximately half of a recess which is found on the lock housing&#39;s sides and are oriented in the tube&#39;s axial direction. The two lock housings form a closed geometry around the tube. Lock plates are used to connect the two lock housings together. By applying a screw in a threaded hole in one of the lock housings&#39; cover, the through tube is pressed against an opposite lock housing at substantially the same time as the lock plates hold the lock housings together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national phase entry of PCT/SE2011/051490,with an international filing date of 9 Dec. 2011, which claims thebenefit of Swedish patent application no. 1001175-7, with a filing dateof 9 Dec. 2010 and Swedish patent application no. 1100062-7, with afiling date of 28 Jan. 2011, the entire disclosures of which are fullyincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to technology for fixing and mountingaccessories to tubes with different cross-sections and dimensions and totechnology for transportation of goods, packaging, material etc. in e.g.warehouses and at assembly stations, by means of gravity.

BACKGROUND

Locking devices for tube constructions are used in many differentapplications, e.g. for connecting tubes in material racks, tent racks,work platforms and stands but also to connect accessories to tubes.

Today's locking devices are not flexible enough to adjust to newconditions. Adjustment means adjustment of e.g. a tube rack's height,width and depth, and it can also be connection of new accessories.Accessories also include new tubes, or relocation of existingaccessories on an assembled tubular construction. Most locking devicesusually have a limited functionality, which results in that severaldifferent variants of locking devices must be purchased in order tobuild the desired tubular construction and to attach accessoriesthereto. When a tubular construction shall be rebuilt in order to beadjusted to new conditions, it is not certain that all locking devicescan be reused. This results in increased costs and unnecessary waste.

Examples of tube racks which must be adapted in terms of width, length,height, and accessories are material racks used in the manufacturingindustry. When new products are introduced and production starts or whenproduction volumes changes, there is a need of rebuilding the materialfacade at a production line and at warehouses where production items arestored. I.e., the material racks along the production line or in thewarehouse must be adjusted to store new types of packaging and to handlenew buffer levels (number of packages). Product changes and volumechanges occur with more frequent interval, and today's solutions for howmaterial racks are constructed are not flexible enough to quickly,easily and cost effectively adapt to the new conditions.

Roller conveyors are used in many different applications for by means ofgravity move objects from one position to another. In e.g. materialracks, roller conveyors are used to transport packaging from the loadingstation to the consumption station.

When new products are introduced and will start production or whenproduction volumes change, there is a need to rebuild the materialfacade at a production line and at warehouses where production items arestored. I.e., the material racks and other material handling systemsalong the production line or in the warehouse must be adjusted to storenew types of packaging and to handle new buffer level (number ofpackages).

Product changes and volume changes occur with more frequent interval,and today's roller conveyors, which e.g. is a part of a material rack,are not flexible enough to quickly, easily and cost effectively adapt tothe new conditions. Adjustment means the possibility to adjust therolling conveyor's length and the ability to easily replace the wheelsthat are assembled in the roller conveyor in order for the rollerconveyor to handle new types of packaging.

Today's roller conveyors consist of a steel profile in which a number ofwheels with axles are fixed directly to the steel profile. The rollerconveyors are sold and delivered in predefined standard lengths. Thismeans that the roller conveyors must be cut to the right length at theend user to fit the desired application. When the user wants to rebuilde.g. a material rack, for example by making it deeper, it means that theroller conveyors must be extended and then new roller conveyors with thecorrect length must be purchased.

If the user would like to reduce the depth, the roller conveyors must becut to the correct length, which often results in waste of the rollerconveyors that are difficult to reuse.

When the wheels of the roller conveyor need to be replaced, e.g.switching from plastic wheels to steel wheels, wheel for wheel in thesteel profile must be replaced, which takes a very long time, at thesame time as it interrupts the production. This results in that thewheels are never changed, and in practice the user instead purchases acompletely new roller conveyor where the new type of rollers areassembled from the beginning. This also results in waste of rollerconveyors which are difficult to reuse in other applications.

SUMMARY

The present invention solves the problems of the known technology, bythat a locking device, with the subsequent patent claims specifiedcharacteristics, can be used for several different locking functions.The locking device consists of lock plates and lock housings.

According to one embodiment, a lock housing is shaped like a shell,intended for use in a locking device for fixing to an elongated element.The lock housing includes a first side comprising at least three holes,wherein at least one hole comprises threads. The hole is positioned onthe first side such that an axial extension of the hole's periphery cutsthe elongated element when the locking device is fixed to the elongatedelement, such that a screw placed in the hole with a thread can beapplied to the elongated element, and that the lock housing furthercomprises at least two other sides substantially perpendicular to thefirst side. The other sides comprise a recess intended to receive theelongated element.

The other sides, which are opposite to each other, have the samedimension and shape of the recesses in order for the elongated elementto run through the lock housing. The other sides include holes orprotrusions intended to be connected with corresponding holes orprotrusions in a lock plate.

Furthermore, is here shown a lock plate intended for connecting with alock housing for fixating to an elongated element. The lock platecomprises a hole located in the middle of the plate, allowing theelongated element to run freely through the hole, and at least two holesor protrusions intended to be fastened in holes or protrusions of afirst and a second lock housing for connecting the first and secondlocking house.

According to one embodiment, a locking device is intended for fixationto an elongated element. The locking device includes two lock housings,according to an embodiment shown herein, and two lock plates, accordingto an embodiment shown herein. Two lock housings can be assembled toform a geometry, where the assembled geometry has through holes formedby the recesses in the lock housings, whereby the through holescorrespond to the geometry of the elongated element the locking deviceis intended to be fastened to. Holes or protrusions on the lock housingsform an interface comprising at least two holes or two protrusions,which interface is found on all sides of the locking device. A lockplate with protrusions or holes corresponding to the interface, can beassembled to two sides of the lock housings for connecting of the lockhousings, at which the locking device is intended to be locked to theelongated element by a screw being applied in one of the threaded holes,of which the axial extension of the periphery cuts the elongatedelement, such that the elongated element is pressed against the oppositelock housing at the same time as it creates tensile forces in the lockplate such that contact pressure and/or friction between the screw andthe longitudinal element, and between protrusions or the holes on thelock plate, and holes or protrusions in the lock housings holds thelocking device together.

According to one embodiment the locking plates include protrusions withthrough holes with internal threads in order to connect accessories tothe locking device.

According to an exemplifying embodiment, the lock housings are shaped asa shell with one open side and a cover which is opposite to the openside. On the cover, holes are placed in a pattern, and in addition tothe holes that form a pattern, there are also threaded holes. Theseholes can be used to attach accessories to the cover or to lock thelocking device. On the other sides, there are half the hole pattern thatis found on the cover and also a recess corresponding to half of thecross section on the tube that the locking device can be locked to. Therecesses are always identical on two opposite sides of the lock housing.This allows the tube to run straight through the lock housing.

The lock plate has a hole in the middle that allows the tube, that thelocking device shall be connected to, to run freely through the hole.This ensures that the tube does not lean on the lock plate whenassembling instead of against the lock housing's recess. The lock platehas pins that are placed in accordance with the same pattern as theholes on the lock housing's cover.

When assembling the locking device to a tube, two lock housings areassembled with the open sides against each other around a tube with thedimensions corresponding to the recesses that are oriented in the tube'saxial direction. The two lock housings then form a closed geometryaround the tube and all sides of the locking device has a hole patterncorresponding to the hole pattern on the lock housing's cover. Two lockplates can be assembled by fitting in the pins in the hole pattern sothat half of a lock plate's pin are in each lock housing. By applying ascrew in the threaded hole in the middle of one of the lock housing'scover, the through tube will be pressed against the opposite lockhousing at the same time as the lock plates hold the lock housingstogether. The locking device is then locked by means of contact pressureand friction. As the same hole pattern is found on all sides, theassembling of components by means of the same interface on all of thelocking device's sides is allowed.

To attach accessories to a tube by means of a locking device, theaccessories can either be connected to a through hole with thread on thelock plate's pin or the interface with the pin can be integrated intothe accessory.

It is also possible to use the invention in a corresponding way but tohave the pins on the lock housing and the holes in the lock plate or toreplace the screw that locks the device with any other type of clampingelement.

The present invention also concerns a roller conveyor that solves theproblems of the known technology by that the roller conveyor, with thesubsequent patent claims specified characteristics, can be used forseveral different dimensions of racks and other material handlingsystems. The roller conveyor includes an inner and outer profile androller organs, such as wheels, which are assembled to a connectingorgan, such as for example rubber strip.

The roller conveyor includes an inner and an outer profile of which theinner profile can run freely in the outer profile, and thus creating atelescopic function.

According to one embodiment, the inner and outer profile is in the formof a c-profile where the width of the opening is equally wide on boththe inner and outer profile. The opening side also includes recesseswhich are designed to receive the axle that the roller organs areassembled to. The distance between the recesses on the profiledetermines the distance between the roller organs in the rollerconveyor.

According to one embodiment, the roller organs are assembled to an axlewhich is intended to be placed in the recesses on the inner and outerprofiles. When the axle has been placed in the recess, the axle alsolocks the inner and outer profile to each other in its longitudinaldirection.

According to one embodiment either end of the roller organ's axle isassembled to a connecting organ. The axles are assembled to theconnecting organ with a distance equal to the distance between therecesses on the profiles in order for the roller organs to be assembledand disassembled in the entire profile's length simultaneously.

Note that the invention can be combined freely within the patent claims'scope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is described in detail below by means of enclosedexemplifying embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a lock housing

FIG. 2 shows a lock plate

FIG. 3 shows locking device assembled on a tube

FIG. 4 shows locking device assembled on a tube including assembledaccessories (tubes in telescopic connection)

FIG. 5 shows locking device assembled on a tube including mountedaccessories (tubes in x-coupling)

FIG. 6 shows locking device with accessories (tubes) assembled on allsides

FIG. 7 shows example of a lock housing with cover in the shape of ahexagon

FIG. 8 shows an inner profile and an outer profile

FIG. 9 shows roller organ with axle

FIG. 10 shows roller organ with axle assembled to connecting organ

FIG. 11 shows connecting organ with roller organ assembled to theprofiles

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, a description of embodiments will be made in referenceto the enclosed drawings. It should be noted that the figures are onlyfor illustrating embodiments and shall not be considered to limit thescope of protection. Directional specifications shall be viewed only asdirectional specifications in the drawings.

By means of the invention, different variants of lock functions can becreated by combining two different types of components with each other.The modular based design makes it very simple to dore-constructions/re-assemblies of e.g. a tubular rack or relocation ofaccessories on this tubular rack.

The invention includes two different components:

-   -   Lock housing    -   Lock plate

Two lock housings and two lock plates together create a locking device.

FIG. 1 shows a lock housing according to one embodiment, wherein thelock housing is a component shaped as a shell with an open side and aclosed side in the form of a cover 5. On the cover there is an interfacewith a hole pattern that forms the same pattern as the pins 1 form onthe lock plate. In addition to this, there are holes with threads 7.

There are recesses 8 on all sides of the lock housing which areperpendicular to the cover's surface 5. Opposite sides of the lockhousing always have the same dimensions of the recesses 8. On thesesides, there are also half as many holes 6 as there are pins 1 on thelock plate. These holes form half the interface that fit the pins 1which are on the locking plate.

When two lock housings are assembled together with the open sides towardeach other a closed geometry is formed with a pattern of holes 6 on allsides of the closed geometry. The same pattern is formed by the pins 1which is on the lock plate.

When two lock housings are assembled, with the open sides toward eachother, it forms in addition, by the recesses 8, through holes on allsides that are perpendicular to the covers 5 on the two assembled lockhousings. The dimensions of the through holes correspond to thedimension of the tubes that the locking device shall be locked to.

The number of sides that are perpendicular to the cover side of the lockhousing divided by two, will determine how many different tubedimensions the locking device can handle. For example, a lock housingwith a cover in the form of a square, has four sides that areperpendicular to the cover and it can handle two different tubedimensions. A lock housing with a cover in the form of a hexagon, hassix sides which are perpendicular to the cover and can thus handle threedifferent tube dimensions.

FIG. 2 shows a lock plate according to an embodiment in which the platehas an interface with a number of pins 1 with internal thread 3 and anumber of holes 2. Two lock plates are used to hold together two lockhousings when locking. The lock plate has a hole 4 in the centre with adimension larger than the dimension of the through half-holes in thelock housing. Accessories such as hooks, tubes, roller conveyors etc.can be connected to the lock plate, with screws through the internalthreads in the pins 3.

A lock plate does not need to be flat. The important thing is that itsfunction regarding through holes and pins, exists. The lock plate canalso be integrated in an accessory.

FIG. 3 shows a locking device which components can be fixed to tubeswith dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the through holeformed by the recesses 8 on the lock housing.

Assembling of a locking device on a tube is made by assembling two lockhousings around a tube with the open sides toward each other. Therecesses 8 on the lock housings with dimension corresponding to the tubedimension shall be oriented in the tube's axial direction. Lock platesare connected to two sides of the closed geometry that is formed whentwo lock housings are assembled. The lock plates are connected byfitting the pins 1 on the lock plate in the holes 6 that are on thesides of the closed geometry, which are perpendicular to the two lockhousing's covers 5. Locking is done by tightening a screw 9 in thethread 7 in the middle of the cover. When tightening the screw it willpress the tube against the surface of the recess 8 on the opposite lockhousing, simultaneously as the lock plates hold the lock housingstogether. The lock plates are held in place by means of contact pressureand friction between pins 1 on the lock plate and holes 6 in the lockhousing. The tube is fixed to the locking device by means of contactpressure and friction in three points, screw 9 against the tube and thetwo surfaces in the recesses 8 of lock housing against the tube.

When a locking device consists of two lock housings and two lock platesthat are fixed to a tube, the locking device is in its basic design. Inits basic design, accessories can be connected to the two sides that thelock plates are assembled to.

FIG. 4 shows lock plates assembled on the sides of the closed geometry,formed by two lock housings, which are perpendicular to the tube's axialdirection and perpendicular to the covers 5 on the closed geometry, andthis may for example be used to lock two tubes of different dimensionsto each other in the axial direction when using telescopic function. Theinner tube 15 runs through the closed geometry and the outer tube 16runs on the inner tube and is attached to one of the lock plates.

FIG. 5 shows that when lock plates are connected on the two sides thatare parallel to the tube and perpendicular to the cover 5 in the closedgeometry, a coupling in the form of a T or an X can be created, if atube is attached to the lock plate.

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment where more accessories are connected throughlock plates assembled to the other sides of the locking device. Theycould also be assembled through the thread 7 in the cover.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative geometry in which the locking device isintended to handle many different tube dimensions depending on geometry.For example, a locking device consisting of lock housings with hexagonalcovers can handle three different tube dimensions.

By means of a telescopic roller conveyor different lengths of rollerconveyors can be created by that the profile to which the roller organsare assembled, includes a telescopic function. The modular based designallows rebuilding of e.g. a rack very easily and enables the rollerconveyor to be reused even if the dimensions of the rack are changed.

According to one embodiment, the telescopic roller conveyor includesthree different modules: Inner profile, Outer profile and Connectionorgan with roller organs.

An inner profile and an outer profile combined with connection organwith roller organs, creates a telescopic roller conveyor.

FIG. 8 shows the inner profile 101 and the outer profile 102 accordingto one embodiment, in which the profiles are in the form of a C-profile.The inner profile 101 can run inside the outer profile 102, and therebycreates a telescopic function.

In alternative embodiments, the profiles 101, 102 can be in any othergeometry as long as the inner profile 101 can run freely in the outerprofile 102 and as long as there are recesses for axles and rollerorgans.

The profiles 101, 102 has a first side 103 comprising at least one firstrecess 108 where the width of the recess is equally wide on the innerprofile 101 as on the outer profile 102. The width of the recessdetermines the maximum width of the rolling organs that can be assembledto the profiles.

In alternative embodiments the roller organs may comprise e.g. wheels,rollers or balls.

The first side 103 of the profiles 101, 102 comprises at least a secondrecess 104 intended to receive the axle 105 to which the roller organs106 are assembled. The other recesses 104 are separated by the samedistance as the distance between the roller organs' 106 center in theroller conveyor. The distance between the other recesses 104 alsodetermines the maximum diameter of the roller organs 106 that can beassembled to the profiles.

When roller organ 106 with its axle 105 is placed in the profiles' theother recesses 104, the profiles are locked to each other in thelongitudinal direction.

FIG. 10 shows roller organs 106 in the form of a wheel with axle 105assembled to a connecting organ 107. Roller organ 106 with axle 105 isassembled to the connecting organs 107 with the same distance as betweenthe other recesses 104 on the profiles. By having roller organs 106 withaxle 105 assembled to a connecting organ 107, all roller organs 106 withaxle 105 can be assembled or disassembled to the profilessimultaneously. Although the connecting organs have been cut in order tobe adjusted for the length of the roller conveyor, it is always possibleto reuse the connecting organs by placing several connecting organs 107containing roller organs 106 and axle 105, along the length of theprofiles.

The roller organs being assembled to a connecting organ 107 may e.g.refer to that they are connected with string, tape, elastic band oranything else that intends to link the wheels together with apredetermined distance from each other.

A telescoping roller conveyor is shown, characterized by that thetelescopic roller conveyor includes an inner profile 101, and an outerprofile 102, wherein the inner profile 101 is designed to run inside theouter profile 102 so that the telescopic function is obtained, andwherein the inner profile 101 and the outer profile 102 at a first side103 comprises: at least a first recess 108 designed to partially containa roller organ 106, and a second recesses 104 designed to receive anaxle 105 connected to the roller organ 106, and wherein the axle 105 isdesigned to lock the inner profile 101 and the outer profile 102 to eachother in the profiles' 101; 102 longitudinal direction.

According to one embodiment, the telescopic roller conveyor can asdescribed above have other recesses 104 designed to partially contain awheel assembled on the axle 105.

According to one embodiment, the telescopic roller conveyor can asdescribed above have a first side 103 comprising a longitudinal slit 108with a width intended to partially contain the roller organ 106.

According to one embodiment, the telescopic roller conveyor can includeat least two axles 105, each one connected to roller organs 106 asdescribed above, wherein the axles 105 include a first and second end,and wherein at least one of the first or the second ends are assembledto a connecting organ 107 at the same distance as the recesses 104 inthe inner profile 101 and the outer profile 102, so that at least twoaxles 105 and roller organs 106 on the roller conveyor's length can beassembled and disassembled to the profiles 101; 102 simultaneously.

Further, the invention includes a material rack comprising telescopicroller conveyor as described above.

The abovementioned description of embodiments shall not be understood aslimiting, but can be freely combined within the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A locking device adapted for fixation to anelongated element, the locking device comprising: a) first and secondlock housings, wherein each lock housing comprises a first planar sideand at least one pair of opposing planar sides substantiallyperpendicular to the first side, wherein the first side comprises athreaded hole adapted to receive a screw, wherein the threaded hole ispositioned on the first side such that the screw placed in the threadedhole can be pressed against an outer surface of the elongated elementwhen the locking device is fixed to the elongated element, and whereineach opposing side has a recess, the recess formed at a distal edgeopposite to the first side and adapted to receive the elongated element,and at least one feature for connecting the first and second lockhousings and locking the first and second lock housings together in adirection of a center axis of the threaded hole, and wherein the featurecomprises at least one of a hole and a protrusion; and b) first andsecond lock plates, each lock plate comprising a planar surface and atleast two features for connecting the first and second lock housings,wherein each feature comprises at least one of a hole and a protrusion;c) wherein the first and second lock housings can be assembled to form ageometry, and wherein the assembled geometry comprises at least twothrough holes formed by the recesses in the opposing sides of the lockhousings, and wherein the through holes are shaped and dimensioned tocorrespond to the geometry of the elongated element, wherein in theassembled geometry the first and second lock housings are aligned sothat the distal edge of each opposing side of the first lock housing isadjacent to and faces the distal edge of a corresponding opposing sideof the second lock housing, such that the recess of each opposing sideof the first lock housing is aligned with the recess of thecorresponding opposing side of the second lock housing to form arespective through hole; d) wherein the at least two features of eachlock plate are adapted to be connected with corresponding features ofthe opposing sides of the first and second lock housings to connect thelock housings and lock the first and second lock housings together inthe direction of the center axis of the threaded hole to form theassembled geometry, wherein the planar surface of each lock plate isaligned with corresponding opposing sides of the lock housings when inthe assembled geometry; e) wherein the locking device is adapted to belocked to the elongated element by the screw being applied in thethreaded hole of at least one of the first and second lock housings topress the elongated element against the other lock housing and createtensile forces in the first and second lock plates in the direction ofthe center axis of the threaded hole; and f) wherein the contactpressure and friction between the screw and the elongated element, andbetween the features of the lock plates and the features of the lockhousings hold the locking device together.
 2. The locking deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second lockplates comprises at least one protrusion having a through hole withinternal threads to connect one or more accessories to the lockingdevice.
 3. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the firstsides of the first and second lock housings comprise at least fivethrough-holes.
 4. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein theat least one pair of opposing sides of the first and second lockhousings each comprise at least two through-holes, and wherein the firstand second lock plates each comprise at least two protrusions adapted toconnect with the at least two through-holes.
 5. The locking deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first and second lock plates eachcomprise at least four protrusions.
 6. The locking device according toclaim 5, wherein at least one of the at least four protrusions comprisesinternal threads.
 7. The locking device according to claim 1, whereinthe recesses of the second and third sides of the first and second lockhousings are semi-circular.